Extension step-ladder.



C. & 0'. c. KLOEPFER.

EXTENSION STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1916.

1,283,212. Patented 001;. 29, 1918..

2 SHEETSSHEEI I.

C. & C. C. KLOEPFER.

EXTENSION STEP LADDER.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1916. 1,283,212.. Patented 00t.29,1918.

' 2fi$HEETS-SHEEI 2.

('JHAItLZElS KLOEPFER, OF NEW YORK, AND CLARENCE C. KLOEPFER,

or BROOKLYN,

' NEW YORK.

EXTENSION STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed ma 29, 1916. Serial No. 100,434.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES KLOEPFER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Queens, in the county of Queens and State of New York, and CLARENCE G; KLoEPrnR, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Extension Stepdladders, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to step-ladders having two portions arranged to be swung apart or spread at the base, and the object of this invention is to provide a ladder of this type in which the portions may be thus set on a level surface and also stand firmly on adjacent surfaces of different heights, as upon separated treads of aflight of stairs, or in which the two portions maybe slid one upon the other to condition the ladder for service as a single element of adjustable length, or the two portions separated for service as two independent short ladders, and which shall be strong and reliably braced and supported under all conditions, and may be easily operated and eco nomically manufactured.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement by which the above objects are attained, to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the invention as it has been carried out in practice.

Figure .1 is a perspective view showing the portions connected and spread for service as a step-ladder.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding side elevation of the upper parts.

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the portions collapsed.

Fig. 4c is a corresponding front elevation,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on a larger scale, taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7 -7 in Fig. 2, and partly in plan view.

Fig. 8 is an angular section taken on the line 88 in Fig. 5, seen in the direction indicated by the arrows, under-plan view.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line 99 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 isa plan view, partly in horizontal section on the line l010 in Fig. 3.

The succeeding figures are incomplete side elevations on agreatly reduced scale, showmg the ladder in various conditions of service.

Fig. 11 showsthe two portions extended as a single ladder.

Fig. 12 shows the portions connected and spread and resting upon a flight of stairs.

Fig. 13 is similar to Fig. 11 but with the removable top platform inplace.

Figs. 14 and 15 show the two portions separated and each serving as an independent short ladder.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The ladder comprises two main sections or portions A and B which for convenience of description will be" termed front and rear portions respectively, and a removable top-step or platform C and shelf D.

The front portion A is shown as provided with steps A equally spaced and secured to the side rails A A the latter each having a longitudinal slot at extending nearly the whole length, and at the top the rails are cut at an angle to match to the adjacent edges of the rails B of the rear portion B. At the bottom the rails A carry angularly disposed legs A A extending therethrough from the lowermost step and serving to ingrease the lateral stability by offering a wide ase.

The rear portion B is preferably somewhat longer than A and is provided with rungs B set in the rails B and corresponding with the steps A except at the top where the rung is preferably displaced by a narrow step E The rails B extend beyond the step B and on the inner faces of their ends are sockets C receiving rods or standards C "on which is mounted the latform C. The latter may be removed y lifting it and drawing its rods out of the sockets, and the platform may be reversed to overhang oppositely to the position shown in Figsql and 2.

On the inner edge of each rail B is seand partly in Patented oct. so, rails.

' a plate E attached to the inner cured a strip 13* of angle-iron having its projecting flange perforated at intervals, as at b, to receive the outer ends of bolts F carried by the portion A and serving to connect both portions pivotally at their upper ends. Thus joined the portions may be swung apart or spread at the bottomas in Figs. 1 and 2, or collapsed to lie in parallel planes as in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The lower ends of the portions are held in the collapsed condition by springarms J J secured to the rails B B and each having an inturned finger J adapted to engage the slot at in the adjacent rail A. In releasin the rails A the arms J are sprung forcibly outward sufliciently to disengage the fingers J from the slots; a head J formed by bending the material of the arm iofi'ers a convenient means for thus moving the arm.

In order to insure against accidental release of the arms J, J, a shorter stifi' plate J 3 is attached to the rail-B near the arm J and carries a turn-button J adaptedto overlap upon and thus engage the outer face of the arm J and prevent its outward movement until released.

Springs bars A A mounted. on the rails 1 A extend across the rails B B their outer-faces and are each provided with a pin A adapted to lie adjacent to the rear edge of the rail 13 and aid in holding the portions together when the bolts F are with drawn, and'with the arms J, serve as guides for the portions when the latter are slid one upon the other in extending the ladder, as indicated in Figs. 11 and 13 and by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

D is a removable folding shelf adapted to support a pail or other article; it is mounted on side-bars D D each notched at the midto receive and rest upon one of the B and having a pivoted catch D by which the engagement with such rung may be securely effected while permitting the arms and shelf to be partially rotated thereon as in folding. When the portions A and B are spread as in Figs. 1 and $2., the sidebars D D extend across the space between the rails A? B and overlap the inner faces of the rails A and each carries on its out-er face a pivotally attached link D having a stud 1) adapted to engage in an opening 6 in face of the rail A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, thus joining the two portions, and to insure stability of the shelf a turn-button D is mounted on the lower face of each bar D adapted when turned to overlap the under edge of the ad jacent link D and prevent a buckling movement of the latter relatively to the bar U.

G G are folding braces each in two parts pivotally joined and pivotally attached to the rails A A The outer-end, of each is length rungs close to iaeaaia hook-shaped, as at G, rungs B when thus engaged the may be opened or closed without breaking the engagement, the braces folding upon themselves in the usual manner. ,.When the ladder is conditioned as in Fig. 12 for service on stairs or other stepped surfaces, the braces G Gmay be engaged with a higher rung.

Thebolts F F are carried in a housing F on the under face of the upper-most step A the outer ends are guided in thimbles F on plates F inner ends in loops F. on the housing. Between each loop and a collar F -on each bolt, is a spring F tending to force the bolts outwardly into engagement with the holes I) in the flanges of the strips B. On the inner end of'each bolt, within the housing, is a slotted arm F each extending at a right angle to its bolt and opposite to each other, and the slots'receive pins F set in opposite ends of a lever F arranged to swing on a pivot F and having a handle F see Fig. 8, by which itmay be turned. lVhen the bolts are in the engaged position they are in line with the pins F and pivot F and are thus held reliably; when it is desired to withdraw the bolts for engagement in other to engage one of the holes of the series or to separate the portions A and B, the lever F is turned, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, and the action of the 131118 upon the arms F retract the bolts in opposition to the force of the springs F The bolts F F serve as pivots upon which the portions A and B may be swung in spreading or folding, within the limits defined by the angular ends of the rails A A and the length of the folding braces G,.G,

and when engaged in the uppermost holes I) b, as shown, the ladder may be thus opened or closed for general service, and it will be noted that both portions may be utilized for climbing and that when opened the two ortions are securely connected by the bolts F F, the bars A A. and the folding braces GG When closed the portions may be slid one upon the other by disconnecting the hooks G of the braces from the rung B and withdrawing the holts F F, the two portions may then be moved relatively to each other to the .desired extent, the arms J J and bars A A serving as guides, and the bolts again on gaged in a lower pair of holes 6' On each rail A? is a piece of metal H adapted to ride upon the flange of the strip B and protect the wood of the rail from wear. I

The shelf D may be removed andreplaced as requirechand the platform C is as before stated both removable and reversible.

To separate the portions the bolts F F are withdrawn and the bars A forced outwardly to release the upper ends, the spring arms J are then forced out of engagement with the attached to the rails A A and the ladder slots a, and the braces G G disconnected still carrying the shelf D or with the latter removed, and the portion. B carrying the platform D projecting in either direction as desired, or it may be removed.

Other means for actuating the bolts F F may be substituted for the mechanism shown, and certain parts of the equipment may be omitted or modified, or other materials may be employed, in adapting the invention for various factur-e.

We claim 1. An extension step-ladder consisting of front and rear'portions, said rear portion having a series of holes in each rail, bolts on said front portion adapted to engage such holes to serve both as pivots and to hold the portions in extended position, the rails of said front portion having each a-longitudinally extending slot, and means on said rear portion for separably and slidably engaging such slots.

2. An extension step-ladder consisting of front and rear portions, each having rails,

purposes and for economy of manuthe rails of said front portion each having a longitudinally extending slot, and the rails of said rear portion having each a longitudinally said front portion adapted to engage in oppositely located holes of such series to serve both as extended position, arms on said rear portion adapted to engage separably' and slidably in such slots, and means for locking. said arms in such engagement.

3. An extension step-ladder consisting of front and rear portions each having rails,

the rails of said frontportion each having a longitudinally extending slot, and the rails of said rear portion each having)a longitudinally disposed series of holes, olts on said ront portion adapted to engage in oppositely located holes of such serles to serve both as pivots and to hold the portions in extended position, arms on said rear portion adapted to engage separably and slidably in said slots, and bars on said front portion adapted to engage the rails of said rear portion separably and slidably, and arranged to hold said portions in slidable relation when said bolts are disengaged.

4:. An extension step-ladder consisting of front and rear portions each having rails, the rails of said front portion each having a longitudinally extending slot, and the rails of said rear portion having each a longitudinallydisposed series of holes, spring-actuated bolts on said front portion adapted to engage in oppositely located holes of such series to serve both as pivots and to hold the portions in extended position, -spring arms the portion B disposed series of holes, bolts on pivots and to hold the portions in the rails of said rear portion, said, arms and bars arranged to hold said portions in slidable relation when said bolts are disengaged.

5. In a ladder of the character set forth and comprising front and rear portions each having rails, the rails of said front portion each having alongitudinally extending slot, a spring'arm on each of the rails of said rear portion, and fingers on said arms adapted to engage in such slots, and means engaging said arms to hold the fingers in engagement in said slots.

6. In a ladder of the character set forth and comprising front and rear ortions each having'rails, the rails of said ront portion each having a longitudinally extending slot, aspring arm on each of the rails of said rear portion, fingers on said arms adapted yieldingly to engage in such slots, plates on the rails of'said rear portion adjacent said arms,

and means on said plates for engaging said arms and holding said fingers in engagement in said slots.

7. In a ladder of the character set forth and comprising a front and a rear portion each having'ralls, the rails of said front ortion each having a longitudinally exten ing slot, a longitudinally extending strip secured to each of the rails of said rear portion, a flange on said strip, each flange having a series of holes, spring arms on the rails of said rear portion adapted to engage separably and shdably in such slots, oppositely disposed bolts on said front portion adapted to engage such holes to serve both as pivots and to hold the portions in extended position, and means for retracting said bolts.

8. In a ladder of the character set forth, a front and a rear portion each having rails, means for separa ly joinin said. portions, arms on one portion slidabl y engaging the other ortion, and means pivotally mounted and a apted to overlap said arms to prevent outward movement thereof.

9. In a ladder of the character set forth, and comprising front and rear portions each having rails, steps in said front portion and rungs in said rear portion, arms having notches adapted to engage upon a rung, a shelf on said arms, plates on the rails of said front portion each having holes therein, a link pivoted on the outer face of each of said arms, a stud on each of said links adapted to engage one of such holes and held in engagement with its plate by the adjacent face of its arm, and plvoted means overlapping said link for locking said link and arm against movement relatively to each other.

10. An extension step-ladder consisting of front and rear portions, one portion having a series of holes in each rail, bolts on the mee eie other portion to engage such holes to serve above set forth We afi ix our signatures, in both as pivots and to hold the portions in presence of two wltnesses.

extended position, the rails of one portion CHARLES KLOEPFER;

having each a longitudinal slot, and means CLARENCE C. KLOEPFER 5 on the other portion for sepai'ably and slid- Witnesses:

ably engaging such slots. JULiUs WOLF,

In testimony that We claim the invention JAMES QUINN. 

